With the final of the Carabao Cup now locked in for 16 March, it is time to take a look at who the favourites are to come away with the season's first piece of genuine silverware.
The final will be contested between Liverpool and Newcastle, with the Toon Army looking to win their first trophy since 1955.
A momentous occasion for Eddie Howe's team, they come into the fixture as rank outsiders due to the proficiency of Arne Slot's Liverpool side.
League leaders in both the Premier League and Champions League, it has been a season of great progress for the Reds under their new coach.
However, anything can happen in a cup final, so, as ever, any form coming into the game goes completely out the window on matchday.
Carabao Cup winner: Current odds
Liverpool – 2/5
The Reds have been in stellar form this season, dominating in every competition in which they have been involved.
Mohamed Salah, in particular, has shown his class, most notably in the Premier League, as he has racked up a genuinely staggering 34 goal contributions in 23 outings.
Liverpool also top the table by six clear points, and still hold a game in hand over their competitors, a fixture which will be played against their bitter rivals Everton in the coming week.
Also boasting a goal difference of +35, Liverpool's attack has truly dominated defences this season. Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz have chipped in with eight goals each, with the former racking up a very impressive 0.42 xGOT per 90 minutes, better than 89% of the division's other wide players.
The club's defence has also been impenetrable at times, with Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk forming a formidable partnership.
Coupled with Trent Alexander-Arnold's ever-present creative talents, the Reds have moulded into somewhat of a super team this campaign. A 4-1 turnaround victory over Tottenham in the semi-final demonstrated this, as Liverpool remained unphased by their first-leg deficit and stormed to victory.
At 2/5, bookies see them as prime favourites to earn Slot his first trophy after taking the helm at Anfield after Jurgen Klopp's departure.
Newcastle – 10/3
Clear underdogs at 10/3, it has also been a very successful 2024/25 campaign for Newcastle, especially when considering their form during the festive period.
A run of seven wins in nine games saw the Magpies surge up the Premier League table, and they currently sit in sixth place, only two points adrift of a coveted Champions League spot. A return to European football would be an incredible achievement, considering a reduction in their spending over the previous two years.
Alexander Isak has also proven himself as one of the world's best strikers recently, enjoying a spell of 10 goals in his last eight league outings, with the club's hierarchy now placing a £160 million price tag on the Swede.
Untroubled by tough opponents Arsenal in the semi-final, in-form widemen Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon both chipped in with goals to round out a comprehensive 4-0 aggregate win. Mistakes from David Raya helped them on the way to the club's first final since the 1990s.
Although firm outsiders, with the quality Newcastle possess, anything could happen. Isak, on top form, is a force to be reckoned with and could cause real problems for the Liverpool defence. With Newcastle looking to grab their first trophy in 60 years, do not count them out at a tempting 10/3.
Our prediction
We feel it is currently tough to look past Liverpool for the Carabao Cup. A 4-1 win against Tottenham in the semi-final, the current holders have already proven how tough they are to beat this season.
A 4-0 demolition in the return fixture, with more goals from Gakpo and Salah, the Reds' goal-scoring prowess this season has been a sight to behold, and will make the final all the more difficult for Howe's plucky Magpies.
With Slot looking to make a name for himself at the club as well, we think backing the Reds to go all the way could be the right move here.
Lifelong Ipswich Town supporter who recently graduated from Durham University in French and German. Have developed a passion for European football based on my links abroad and am an avid supporter of Werder Bremen and Auxerre. Joined the MFT team in October 2024 and looking to take my first steps into the world of football journalism.
